I've watched over 100 films in the last year and in an effort to qualify these countless hours as "time well spent," I offer a few recommendations and ideas that might help you have a less stressful holiday season. Last week I highlighted some of the more obvious choices, this week we're getting a little more specific.

Nevermind the mainstream

We've been treated to some wonderful indie films this year. A handful have made their way to DVD like Sam Mendes' quiet film about a young couple looking for the perfect place to raise their child in "Away We Go," Jim Jarmusch's study of the criminal mind in "The Limits of Control," Ang Lee's story about Tiber family's role in the infamous concert in "Taking Woodsock" and Atom Egoyan's "Adoration" which could have been called "The Invention of Terrorism."

The "Kevin Smith Box Set" brings a trio of the director's films to Blu-ray. Two of which, "Clerks" and "Chasing Amy," are classics while the third, "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" has its entertaining moments.

Charlyne Yi and Michael Cera fan's will love "Paper Heart" as the duo make a film that is so awkwardly real that critics are unable to believe that it is a work of fiction. Personally I'm holding out for "(500) Days of Summer" which gets released on Dec. 22.

Adrenaline junkies

Those who want a little more of a kick up their cinema shouldn't pass up Quentin Tarantino's lively "Inglourious Basterds" or David Fincher's brilliant "Fight Club."

There's also the new Uwe Boll videogame inspired "Far Cry" which out performs expectation as it passes as a mindless matinee from the mid '80s. I'll be picking up the recently released Blu-ray of Luc Besson's classic "Leon: The Professional," along with the Blu-ray of "Galdiator" (those who like "Braveheart" should get that as well).

For those about to geek

If its action with a dose of science fiction you're looking for (assuming you've already picked up "Star Trek") "Terminator: Salvation" is worth a look but the unexpected classic "District 9" is a must-own for anyone who likes a bit of intelligence and submersed political commentary in their sci-fi. Not to mention that the "The Ultimate Watchmen" is still out there for the giving.

If Anime is more your thing both the cyberpunk classic "Ghost in the Shell 2.0" and the more accessible "Blood: the Last Vampire" have both been given their Blu-ray debuts.

Fans of foreign horror will savor Park Chan-wook's atypical, and critically acclaimed, vampire drama "Thirst" and the Finnish film "Sauna" which is set in the late 1500's and follows a group of soldiers who are terrorized by the ghosts of their past sins. There's also the French gem "Vampire Party" which mixes comedy within its frights without giving up its intelligence in the process.

Celebrating the past

"The Claudette Colbert Collection" contains six lesser-known films from the iconic actress that show off Colbert's range as she plays a variety of roles including a modern feminist (before they existed), fish out of water, accused witch and poverty stricken heiress.

Songwriter Johnny Mercer finally gets his due in Turner Classic Movies' "Johnny Mercer: The Dream's On Me." Throughout his career Mercer wrote memorable songs that were made popular by the likes of Tony Bennett and Ella Fitzgerald.

Those who scoff at the notion of Sherlock Holmes being made into an action film can take solace in any number of Sherlock Holmes films starring Basil Rathbone. The latest being the double feature of "The House of Fear" and "The Pearl of Death."

Disney's popular "Zorro" television show starring Guy Williams finally makes its way to DVD via Disney's "Treasure" collection. Seasons 1 and 2 are available separately and come in collectable black tins and include a Zorro pin.

Sony has recently released two marvelous box sets that belong in any film buff's collection. The first is "Columbia Pictures Film Noir Classics, Vol. 1" and features five films from the 1940s from the likes of Fritz Lang and Don Siegel with performances from Kim Novak, Glenn Ford and Lee Marvin. The second set is "Samuel Fuller Collection." Fuller helped create the blueprint from which today's indie filmmakers craft their films. This box features two films he wrote and directed along with a trio of films he either wrote or were inspired by his stories (he started out as a pulp novelist).

PBS addicts and lovers of a good mystery would be happy to waste away 35 or so hours watching the 17-disc "Agatha Christie: Poirot & Marple Crime Anthology Collection."

I'd also highly recommend checking out the "Universal Backlot Series" which has released a handful of films from the "pre-code" era including Cecil B. DeMille's "Cleopatra" starring Claudette Colbert.

The scholarly aesthetic

It would seem that the end of the world is coming and while Hollywood has done an admirable job of stroking our paranoia you might want to take a look at "Doomsday 2012" to see the facts behind the fears.

Those more interested in seeing the world, rather than the end of it, should pick up "Expedition Africa" as a group of young travelers attempt to re-create the 1871 journey of Henry Morton Stanley. Producer Mark Burnet brings a few of his "Survivor" tricks to the adventure. Those looking for a more straightforward approach should consider Disney Nature's "Earth" (a scaled down edit of the BBC's brilliant "Planet Earth").

Aspiring astronauts and scientists would do well to pick up HISTORY's Blu-ray release of "The Universe: Seasons 1-3" (or "The Universe: Megaset" if DVD is your preference). Those interested in the landing of Apollo 11 on the moon should enjoy the brilliant documentary "For All Mankind" or the light-hearted dramatization of the events in "Moonshot."

The more politically and liberal minded individual would want to see "Rethink Afghanistan" for its appraisal of the war on terror or "MoveOn: The Movie" which looks at the power of people rallying together for change.

On a completely different front there is the acclaimed 2007 documentary "The Art Star and the Sudanese Twins." That follows performance artist Vanessa Beecroft's obsessive desire to adopt a pair of orphans and "Hori Smoku Sailor Jerry" a film about Norman "Sailor Jerry" Collins who is considered to be one of the most iconic (and charismatic) figures in the history of American tattooing.

"The Cove," brilliantly combines James Bond high-tech wizardry and a man's desperate search for redemption as he attempts to uncover the gruesome slaughter of dolphins in a small Japanese town.

On the Sappy Side.

Obvious choices would include the surprisingly decent rom-com "The Proposal," the tear jerking "My Sister's Keeper" or "Julie & Julia" (with "Top Chef: New York" as a companion gift).

The Hallmark Channel's "Mail Order Bride" (not to be confused with the Danny Aiello film) and "The Gambler, the Girl and the Gunslinger" have Wild West themes. As does "McLeod's Daughters: The Original Movie" (albeit with an Australian twist) that spawned the popular television show that lasted nine seasons.

Those of a spiritual yoke might prefer the holiday film "Where God Left His Shoes" starring John Leguizamo as a failed boxer in search of a job and a home for his family during the Christmas season.

Young at heart

There were a few great family releases this year including the candy-colored world of "Coraline."

Pixar's "A Bug's Life," "Cars" and "Monsters Inc." were given their Blu-ray debuts this year. As were sister studio Disney's "Pinocchio" and "Snow White."

"Treasury of 100 Storybook Classics Box Set" is a 16-DVD set with nearly 20 hours of classic stories including "Where the Wild Things Are," "Corduroy," and "Curious George." If that collection seems a bit massive to handle Scholastic has also released smaller collections like "Treasury of Classic Bedtime Stories" (4 DVDs) and "Treasure of 50 Animal Antics" (7 DVDs).